Toiin



(No Model.)

J. L. CROWLEY. FOLDING CHILDS CARRIAGE.

No. 595,150. Patented De0.7, 1897.

/N VEN 70H A TTORNEY.

UNTTnn STATES PATENT Orricn.

JOHN L. OROXVLEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO TIMOTHY JVLEIIAN, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING CHILDS CARRIAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,150, dated December 7, 1897.

Application filed August 9,1897. Serial No. 647,653. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. CROWLEY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Ohildrens Oarriages, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invent-ion has relation to improveto ments in childrens carriages, and more particularly to the running-gears for that especial class of childrens carriages which can be compacted or folded into a narrow space for convenience of storage and ease of trans- I5 portation.

The object of this invention is to furnish a childs carriage which shall be simple in construction, economical in cost, durable in use, and capable of being rapidly and easily compressed or folded,when not in use, into a space very materially narrower than that of its normal width.

The invention consists of certain peculiar and novel features of construction and combinations of parts, whichwill be hereinafter specifically described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the mechanical structure of the invention and forming a part of the subjoined specification.

Figure 1 is a side view. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the runninggear. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the running-gear. Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing the running-gear as it appears when compacted or folded.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the body of a childs carriage. appropriate manner, so as to be capable of being folded into narrow compass.

2 are the wheels. The wheels are of common construction and turn on journals set in axle-supporting blocks 3, affixed to the under sides of the side rails of the running-gear.

4. indicates the side rails, which are shown as having their ends curved over at 5 to furnish supports, to which the carriage-body 1 may be attached by any convenient means.

6 indicates handles for use in drawing or This body may be constructed in anypushing the carriage about. At their ends the handles are connected by a cross bar which, that it can be folded with the running gear, is centrally provided with a sleeve and link-hinge, a construction very similar to that shown in the old and well-known parasolhandle hinge.

8 indicates what may properly be denonii nated the axles. They are made in two sections orinembers, which are pivotally connected together at 9 bya pin seated in a block 10. At their other ends the members of the axle 8 are attached to the side rails 4 by means of pivot-pins 11, which are securely seated in the axle-supporting blocks 3.

12 constitutes what I call actuating-bars. They are also made in two members, and like the axles 8 they are pivotally joined together by a pin 13, resting in a block 1%. At their other ends the actuating-rods are connected with the pivot-pins 11 before referred to.

15 indicates a screw-threaded rod or spindle extending lengthwise of the running-gear on its under side and is centrally located between the side rails 4E. The spindle is designed to work in orifices piercing the pivotpin blocks 10 and 14. The orifices in the blocks 10 are screw-threaded to correspond with the screw-threaded periphery of the spindle. The orifices in the blocks 14: are not screw-threaded and are sufficiently large to permit full revolution of the spindle. On both sides of the blocks 14: the spindle 15 is provided with collars 17, fitting close against the blocks, so that the position of the spindle with reference to the blocks 14 shall remain constant. If desired, pins piercing the spindle can be substituted for the collars 17. As the collars 17 confine the position of the spindle with relation to the blocks 14 and the screw-threading of spindle and blocks 10 correspond, it is obvious that any rotation of the spindle will cause the blocks 10 to move along the spindle away from or toward the blocks 14, according to the direction of the rotation given to the spindle by the operator.

The operation of my device is as follows: Vhen the carriage is open for use, the several parts of the running-gear are assembled, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. To compact the device, the operator gives reverse rotation to the screw-spindle 15 by hand-power applied by any convenient means at the point of 16. This application of power will operate to force the blocks 10 and 14 apart, and as the sections or members of the axles Sand actuating-rods 12 are pivotally connected to the blocks 10 and 14 by the pins 9 and 13, respectively, and also to the side rails by the pins 11 it becomes obvious that any continuation of rotation to the spindle 15 in the direction specified will cause the axles 8 and actuating-rods 12 to turn on their pivots and draw the side rails 4 towardeach other till they are brought close together, as shown in Fig. 4. The carriage thus compacted or folded can be easily carried over narrow stairways or through narrow doorways, or it can be very conveniently stored in a very limited amount of space-in a shallow closet, for examplewhile it can be easily opened at anytime by a reversal of the operation above set out.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a folding childs carriage, the screwthreaded spindle 15 in combination with the pivot-pin blocks 10 and 14, and coacting with the. same as specified, and the sectional axles 8 and sectional actuating-rods 12, pivotally connected with said blocks 10 and 14, and

the side rails 4 substantially as herein set forth.

2. In a folding childs carriage, the axles 8 made of two pivotally-connected-members in combination with pivot-pin blocks 10, actuating-rods 12, and pivot-pin blocks 14, and screw-threaded spindle 15 operating as set I forth as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. In a childs carriage, a folding runninggear consisting essentially of the combinatlon of the side rails, 4, axle-supporting blocks carried thereon, pivotally-joinedaxles, 8,

pivotally connected to said axle-supporting JOHN L. CROW'LEY.

IVitnesses:

HERBERT S. RILEY, HERBERT G. BRIGGS. 

